She wondered if it was possible to get a buttock blister. If so, she had blisters a mile high, she was sure. She had hoped all day that they would find where the sheep went and be able to return home by night, but now she knew they were destined to spend the night in that awful little tent, and shuddered at the thought of the three of them sleeping in such close quarters. For the first time that day she wished she had stayed home.
The sun's rays were beginning to slant and the air had a coolness again, so they dismounted and put on their jackets. Jennifer was scanning the side of the creek for a suitable place to spend the night. She thought she saw several but didn't want to be the one to mention stopping, fearing a rebuff from Chris, so she dragged on leaving the decision to Brian. But it didn't look like he was giving it any thought. She was close to becoming completely exhausted and knew she couldn't climb back on that horse is she had to, and it looked like she had to, as Brian was back on Glory and Chris had mounted Jingle. Then to her great relief she heard Brian say, I think if we ride a bit longer we can reach a little cabin by Hospital Creek. Jennifer's heart lifted at the thought of a cabin instead of the tent for the night, but Brian continued, It would be handy to store our gear in as the weather can change in a flash. You can't trust it. He didn't add it would be a good place to store their food in case a bear came snooping round.
Can't we sleep in the cabin instead of the tent? she asked hopefully.
You can suit yourself, but it's pretty old. I don't think you will want to.
Jennifer's heart sank but she still entertained the hope of spending the night in the cabin instead of the tent. They left Dark Creek and the sun had gone behind the mountains. Only a red sky remained when they spotted the little cabin in the trees and heard the rushing waters of Hospital Creek nearby. It was a great relief to Jennifer to climb down out of the saddle and inspect the cabin while Brian and Chris unloaded the pack horse after unsaddling and watering the riding horses. She pushed open the door of the cabin, and the stench of dust and mold rushed out to her. She took a cautious step inside the dark rustic interior and saw that it was very primitive. There was a little old stove that looked more like a heater than a cook stove in the center of the room, but obviously served as both, as it had a flat top that would accommodate a couple of pots. There wasn't much else to see. A rickety table and a couple of chairs. In a dark corner two bunks were roughly attached to the wall. A hunter's cabin, or maybe a prospector, or a trapper, and she shuddered at the thought of trapping animals. What made man leave civilization and come to remote places like this? She understood that in the country's pioneer era there had been explorers with curiosity, hunters seeking food and clothing, and prospectors looking for fortunes in gold. But there must always have been plain mountain men like Brian. This time it was to track the ram, for Chris, he said, bit she had suspected it was for Brian too. He had been here before, many times, or he wouldn't be here now. He loved to ride in the hills, as he called these rugged peaks, that were among some of the highest in the world. Was it to get away from it all, or a basic need to return to nature? A need to smell the crisp fresh air on the lofty peaks, and the damp earth under the moss in the deep ravines. To hear the rushing water and trees in the swaying wind. A feast for the soul of man.
Chris was unrolling the sleeping bags, so she gave him a hand. Then she started unpacking food and cooking utensils while Chris helped Brian gather wood for a camp fire, which Brian said they could build at that time of year, as the fire season was over. They put the saddles and equipment they wouldn't be needing until morning in the little cabin. Jennifer had decided to sleep in the tent, after all. Brian wanted something to heat water in, and she couldn't understand why until he handed her a steaming mug of hot rum, which he said was a must after a strenuous day in the saddle. Chris wanted to join in when they started toasting the success of the journey so far; so Brian gave him a mug with a few drops of rum and a lot of hot water and honey, and he was happy. The delicious rum not only helped soothe their aching limbs, it assuaged their nerves which had become frayed from the clashes and grievance of the long, arduous day. |
